Wonil, Perth’s Handwritten Hotel
David Bowden travelled Down Under to stay in the Wonil Hotel Perth to appreciate that this Accor property is a member of a collection of specially curated hotels.
Words and Pictures by David Bowden
It’s difficult to keep up with hotel brands and concepts, as I discovered when I set foot in the impressive Wonil Hotel Perth Handwritten Collection. This new Accor concept thoughtfully invites guests into a charming and stylish home setting, or so the literature had me believe. The thinking behind this portfolio of just 25 global properties is that it is as if I had received a handwritten invitation to stay.
Individuality and Uniqueness
Handwritten Collection hotels express the individuality and uniqueness of their location, with Wonil Perth providing contemporary-styled rooms in a serene parkland setting along the Swan River waterfront.
I certainly appreciated the homeliness of the property set beside the wide estuarine expanse of the river, just two kilometres from the centre of the Western Australian capital. The hotel of just 66 keys is located within the leafy grounds of the University of Western Australia. While the property is managed by Accor, it is owned by the university, and all the profits generated are used for academic research.
The low-rise development includes several adjoining larger residences where long-stay guests, mostly academics engaged in research projects at the university, can be accommodated.
Parkland Setting
The hotel is located along a riverside walking/cycling path and within walking distance of the remotest parts of Kings Park, one of the city’s leading recreational precincts. No doubt, some energetic guests may want to walk into the city from the hotel. While the hotel does not have a gym or a swimming pool, guests looking for exercise can set off along the dedicated trail beside the river and through the grounds of the semi-forested university.
I did just that one afternoon and first headed due south to Matilda Bay Reserve, where a famous restaurant is located, and then retraced my footsteps to pass the iconic blue boathouse and then into the western extremities of the expansive Kings Park. All are recommended activities, with the blue boathouse being an Instagrammable highlight of Perth. 
Riverview Rooms
Three storeys of rooms extend above the first floor with its discrete reception area, restaurant and library nook. The latter invites guests to linger longer with its small but fascinating library of books and very comfortable seating. The public space extends onto the semi-open verandah, which is popular for catching up on some work or for small meetings. Guests can also do some stargazing from the telescope kept at reception.
All rooms feature local materials such as honey-coloured timber. Leather chairs and a bedhead of a similar hue provide a minimalist but stylish finish. The floors are mostly covered with carpet, although there is a timbered area at the entrance to each room. Floor-to-ceiling glass enables light to enter the room, but effective block-out curtains keep out the early morning light (the hotel faces east). A sliding door provides access to a spacious verandah that overlooks the wide expanse of the Swan River estuary. Sadly, there is no verandah furniture, as it would be a wonderful place to relax in the late afternoon.
Well Appointed Rooms
Beds have ample pillows, both hard and soft. Bedside lighting is adequate for reading in bed, and while there are ample power points, none are universal, and overseas guests may need an adaptor. All rooms are equipped with large televisions, irons, ironing boards, safes, unstocked mini fridges, complimentary wi-fi, drinking water (refillable in the bar/restaurant), coffee machines, kettles and a microwave oven.
Bathrooms are well fitted out with a similar decor to the bedroom, and the showers include Mr Smith toiletries provided in large wall-mounted dispensers. The bathroom lighting is perfect, and large mirrors make the space look larger than it is. A sliding panel can be partially opened or closed between the bathroom and the bedroom. Robes and slippers are also provided.
Head West
The property has one restaurant and bar as well as room service. West Kitchen and Bar is the venue for breakfast (7:00am to 10:00am), lunches (Tuesday to Saturday) and dinner (Tuesday to Saturday). A comprehensive breakfast buffet is complemented by a selection of hot and cold à la carte mains. Where possible, the restaurant and bar incorporate fresh local products and ingredients in the food and drinks served.
Every Saturday, the hotel offers a ‘Bottomless Seafood Brunch’ featuring fresh Western Australian seafood, including oysters, barramundi, salmon, and crabs, plus charcuterie platters of cheeses and meats, salads, and roast beef. A glass of sparkling Western Australian wine sets diners in the right mood, and various beverage packages are offered.
Discounted Drinks
Discounted sunset drinks (3:30pm to 5:30pm) from Tuesday to Saturday encourage guests and their friends to gather at the bar to enjoy promotional prices for various signature cocktails. Two cocktails that captured my attention while researching what the bar had to offer were the mango and thyme Bellini (housemade mango and thyme syrup with Prosecco) and the outback gin and tonic (made from Haiver Gin, botanicals, and tonic water). It’s not just about drinking, as bar snacks such as house-marinated olives, charred homemade bread, cranberry and prosciutto toasties, beef and rosemary sausage rolls, and jumbo tomato arancini are also served.
Late-night revelry is not something the hotel is renowned for, as the bar closes at 10:00pm. The restaurant and bar are also closed on Sundays and Mondays, but kitchen staff can, with sufficient warning, arrange ‘grab and go’ beverages or dishes.
Wonil Perth will especially appeal to visitors seeking a contemporary-styled boutique hotel close to the city in a delightful estuarine location facing the expansive Swan River. The decor is most appealing, and the facilities are top-notch. However, small means a compact range of facilities and services are offered (for example, the restaurant is closed for two days), but business travellers or those visiting the university will know they made the right choice.
POCKET GUIDE
Wonil Hotel Perth Handwritten Collection
21 Hackett Drive
Perth, Western Australia
T: +61 9 200-4800
W: wonilhandwrittencollection.hotels-perth.com
